Liverpool travel to the north side of Stanley Park to face Everton in the Premier League on Saturday lunchtime.
Jurgen Klopp has led the Reds into the Goodison Park cauldron six times during his seven years on Merseyside, avoiding defeat on each occasion (W2 D4). In fact, Klopp’s only loss in this historic rivalry was at an empty Anfield in February 2021.
Here’s the XI the German tactician may deploy to maintain his unbeaten streak on enemy soil.
GK: Alisson – Brazil’s number one hasn’t kept a clean sheet away from home since April.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – The Liverpool-born fullback used to peer through the cracks in the walls of the club’s training ground to get a glimpse of his heroes.
CB: Joel Matip – Even watching on from the bench, Matip stole the spotlight with an impassioned celebration of Fabio Carvalho’s late winner against Newcastle which saw the centre-back drop to his knees and beat the turf with both fists. Now injury-free, Matip may be afforded the chance to shine on the pitch.
CB: Virgil van Dijk – After a protracted world-record transfer for a defender, Van Dijk marked his debut for Liverpool with an 84th-minute winner against Everton, in front of the Kop.
LB: Andy Robertson – Scotland’s captain either scored or assisted half of the six Premier League goals Liverpool plundered at the expense of Everton last season.
CM: Harvey Elliott – “The best player on the pitch” against Newcastle – according to his manager – has surely done enough to secure a fifth start on the spin.
CM: Fabinho – Liverpool’s ballast in midfield is unbeaten in his half-dozen appearances against Everton.
CM: James Milner – Despite his midweek heroics, Carvalho may be overlooked for Milner if Klopp opts for some seniority in the heat of a derby atmosphere.
RW: Mohamed Salah – In Egypt’s 2018 presidential election, more than one million voters spoiled their ballots – twice the figure the opposition’s Moussa Mustafa Moussa acquired – scrawling the name of a certain fleet-footed forward in place of either candidate.
ST: Roberto Firmino – The Brazilian’s goal in midweek ensured Firmino has scored in consecutive Premier League games for the first time since December 2020. He hasn’t scored in three straight top-flight outings since 2017.
LW: Luis Diaz – During his two and a half years at Porto, Diaz was undefeated in 12 matches against the club’s fierce rivals Benfica and Sporting CP. He came off the bench to get an assist in his first taste of the Merseyside derby last season.
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